@@billwoods9302 - That's also _my_ favourite version 🙂 Alex' solo in this piece is my #2 favourite, after Gilmour's in 'Another Brick In The Wall - Pt.II' 🙂 Great solo also in the (sadly incomplete) Pink Pop video!
So true! And . . . the solo in the "Lexerst in Wonderland" section is one of the best guitar solos and drum combinations I've ever heard. Completely ethereal!
I would agree that it's one of the greatest but since I'm sure that I haven't heard all of the hundreds & hundreds of rock instrumentals ever recorded I will say it's "one of" not "the" greatest that I've heard.
Of course they did this live, they prided themselves as being able to play live and accurately, anything in their catalog without any technical compromising or cheating. Musical integrity in concert. Super clean live band! Extremely impressive in concert. I know, I was there. 😁
They eventually played songs live that were never intended to be played live when recorded i.e. Losing It. It would be easier to list songs that they have NOT played live.
@@fknbuflobo I didn't like " loosing it " until I realized that I have peaked and now are on the downward slope into retirement. Damn , the things I could do effortlessly all day , and all night long. young folks, talk with your elders , you might be surprised what they say. they have been through just what you are going through now. .and they did just fine.The internet knows nothing .
Hi 'Red', as I'm watching this video, I see you're blown away. My friend, listen to (and react if you want) to this on EXIT...STAGE LEFT. All I can tell you is BRACE YOURSELF; YOU WILL BLOWN AWAY ABSOLUTELY BIG TIME by this performance. TRUST ME; listening to Alex' solo, and Neil's drumming; seeing how excited you are listening to this studio version, the live concert version from that Moving Pictures tour, you may not be able to contain yourself. Again, TRUST ME. I'm sure many here who comment will agree, La Villa Strangiatto from EXIT...STAGE LEFT is a SUPERB ABSOLUTE TREMENDOUS MASTERPIECE.
I think the live version from EXIT... STAGE LEFT (1981) surpasses the quality of the studio recording. I have a favorite memory of this song that happened in the late eighties. I was driving to my sisters house in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, in the darkness of night. It began snowing and it looked like the star scape when the Millenial Falcon jumped to light speed. This was the last track on the cassette tape and the snow wizzing past the car, gave the tune a surreal feeling. One of my all time favorite tracks from Rush!
YOU GET AN "A+" IN ADVANCED RUSH THEORY!!! WE LOVE THE "THEATER OF THE MIND"... EVERY NOTE AND EMOTION "GIFTED" TO US BY RUSH IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED... RUSH NEVER PLAYED TO US LIKE WE ARE IDIOTS... THEY NEVER "DUMBED IT DOWN"... I THINK YOU'RE READY TO EXPERIENCE THE CYGNUS X-1 SAGA NEXT... MUCH LOVE TO ALL!!!
One of their all time best instrumentals. Always a highlight at concerts often either an encore or a late in the set song where the boys can just let loose and jam out. Definitely shows just how great they are musicians!
I heard the Hemispheres album in its entirety on a local FM station shortly after it's release while I was trying to write a paper for a college class. I didn't listen to is closely and couldn't say afterwards that I had a very indepth knowledge of the band. Just under a year later, I bought two tickets to a Rush show in my town still not having much knowledge of them but at 20 years of age, a concert was a concert. I was completely overwhelmed. This show was phenomenal. Opening with 2112, including Cygnys X1, Bytor and the Snow Dog, and two versions of yet unreleased songs from their upcoming album Permanent Waves - Spirit of Radio and Freewill. The coup de grace of the show was Working Man and then this masterpiece, La Villa Strangiato. Needless to say, after that show I was an unrepentant fan of what I came to understand was the best live band I would ever get to see. La Villa is, in my mind the best song Rush ever performed and might one of the four or five best songs of any genre that has ever been recorded. It simply is an exquisite sonic experience.
"Strangiato" (STRAHN-gee-ah-toe) is a nonsense word that they made up. The song was inspired by a dream Alex had. Though they recorded a few takes before this particular one, this was recorded live in the studio, meaning they refrained from recording drums first with a scratch vocal, then bass, then guitars, etc.. They did this in ONE take, in the same room with each other, with no "punch-ins" (fixed flubs). Of course there are a few overdubs (the intro acoustic part in particular), but the majority of this song was done in one take. Simply awesome. Cheers!
Not quite correct! They'd tried over and over again and for days on end to record it in one single take but in the end gave up, and it was comped together from _two_ takes. That experience also was one of the reasons why Rush decided to step away from such long and super-intricate songs, which reflects already in the next album, 'Permanent Waves', despite its last song also being fairly long ('Natural Science') but not as complicated 🙂
It would seem that you found that one band that checks all the boxes! 3 friends that were able to take us on so many musical/lyrical journeys and leave us all with wide smiles on our faces! Another great one Red!!!
Hemispheres is my second favorite Rush album out of 20, so yeah, La Villa has a special place in my heart. I literally wore out the 8-track tape in 1978.
This is in the top 5 of most Rush fans, I am guessing.. Your reactions to Rush songs are the best on TH-cam. Try Necromancer for some early Rush trying to discover themselves. One of my favorites.
It was my first album played on a crappy mono record player. I thought that is why it sound so tintty, bad/ cheap mixing i guess. but the lyrics and stories where awesome.
I am so happy that you are coming to age of being a Rush fan, someone that can appreciate the album version with out the visual aids of a video. Just put on the headphones, turn it up, close your eyes and just enjoy. I always seem to be carried away with imagination.
You are so on point with your comments!!! Very impressive on one listening!!! And yes, they did this live countless times....it's a fan favorite. They ended the night with it on a few tours. You may want to check this song out on their Time Machine tour.....quite impressive!!!! Cheers!
Alex (Lerxst) is playing out his dream in sections and Geddy and Neil are right with him perfectly. I love this amazing instrumental. You need to witness it live from their Time Machine Tour and their R30 Tour. There are other really great live ones from 1978 & 79, so young and amazing. Maybe you won't be overwhelmed by synesthesia experiencing it live because it is magnificent live.
Synestesia! I never knew there was a name for what i have been experiencing my entire life or that it was considered a condition? Mind blown! Thank you so much redheadedneighbor! Long live Rush baby!!!
Alex Lifeson: RUSH guitarist and Guru Extraordinaire! The HEART ❤️ AND SOUL OF RUSH! THE FUNNIEST MAN ON THE PLANET AND GREATEST SPEECH GIVER OF ALL TIME!!! ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: BLAH…BLAH…BLAH! HATS 🎩 OFF TO ALEX LIFESON 😎😎😎👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎸🎸🎸
This is my all time Rush fav song. I also believe that it's the best instrumental rock song ever written. All that album is a masterpiece. As for if I listened to this song a lot, I'm a guitarist since I was 13-14, I'm 60 now. I first had the vinyl of this record then the CD and when I lost everything to fire I bought the CD again. I can play perfectly about 90% of that song on the guitar and I learned it by ear. That means pressing play, stop, rewind and play again... hundreds of times if not thousands.
One of the best instrumentals from Rush. It contains my favorite guitar solo from Alex. You must watch the live version of this song. Rush played it live for many years. I remember loving the laser light show during Alex's guitar solo. It was amazing. This was such a fun reaction!
This is my "if you were on a deserted island and could only have one......" song. Alex's Magnum Opus. Greatest guitar solo ever, imo. Alex had a nightmare and told the guys and they made this song to tell the story of the nightmare. If you look at the section titles there is a sort of hodge podge of languages used. Alex once said in an interview that the dream (nightmare) kept switching languages and locations on him. During the main solo (pt IV) it starts very subdued and melodic and the solo slowly builds up in intensity to the climax. I love how Geddy and Niel slowly build with Alex as well in such a skilled way, accompanying him perfectly. It's almost like a John Williams score. Lerxst is Geddy's nickname for Alex.
I'm a huge Rush fan, I couldn't possibly pick a favorite song, each one has a meaning and a unique memory for me. I miss them everyday 😞 RIP Professor 🥁
I was bouncing around on a destroyer in the Indian Ocean when I first heard this song I just know this I don't know any other band that they would put this on a track
How do musicians do that? You ask. Well the answer is that not many can. Utter genius here from three guys who were so lucky to meet each other. Lucky for us too. I've been listening to them for over 40 years and still find it unbelievable.
I really enjoyed listening to this with you. I do not have synesthesia for anything else but this song gives me full body shivers and head rushes EVERY TIME. This album (Hemispheres) was what sold me, 100% Rush fan for life when I heard this song as a teenager. Probably 8 years after it was released! I was just a little kid in 1978 and it would have gone right over my head but I heard it at the right time in my life and was hooked. Like, are they even human?
@@gr8whyte66 I had reds on Alex Lifeson's side if the stage for that concert and to top it off a girl in my class in high school asked me out to this concert I had a clipboard with all three members on it that I used to takes notes she noticed lol The one and only time a girl asked me out on a date GLAD SHE DID RUSH was awesome. She complained to her friends I air drummed all night which was a lie usually I do but I was trying to be on my best behavior and didn't she pissed me off. Lol
There's so many time signatures, timing cues , "chaos "and interaction between them in this song you almost have to do a live version - I've watched it dozens of times & I see something new everytime !
My favourite Alex quote about this song is that he couldn't play it when he wrote it, now he plays it while sitting on the couch watching tv. One of their all time best.
The are other great and fantastic bands like Rush with Amazing Musician ship and it's found in the Top Classic Prog bands and they are all Favs of Rush also ! 👍 Yes/ Genesis "Gabriel Era 1970-75"/ King Crimson/ Jethro Tull/ Pink Floyd/ ELP/ Gentle Giant/ Nektar/ Camel/ Focus and many more from 1969' - 1979' the Best Era 🎶
Awesome reaction Red. Again I say, “you’re authentic and awesome”! You could have been the 8th woman in the audience had you joined before😉 (inside Rush joke)
From a Gary to Geddy your one of the most talented musician of all time! No one touches your talent on bass, keyboards, and singing! You are the definition of Unique and RUSH is not RUSH without your playing and vocals! To quote the movie: I LOVE YOU MAN! Alex and Neil as well!!
Fun fact on this one Red. When in the studio their goal was to record this in one take together. Eventually Terry Brown (producer) convinced them to do it in 3 separate takes....together. And YES, they did pull this off live.....even better in my book.
What great fun that was! Admittedly, the Exit Stage Left version is THE live version to see, but the studio version is the original and it’s the one I connect with the most. It’s seared into my psyche because I remember my reaction the first time I heard it. “Are they allowed to do this?” I’d ask myself - because everything else I’d heard up to this point followed a pretty standard rock song structure. THIS WAS DIFFERENT. Yes - this was in rotation when they played live. Sometimes we got the entire thing; other times portions of it were part of a medley with parts of other songs. Thoroughly enjoyed this reaction! 🙏🏼
I love this style of guitar so good #redheadedneighbor #bestreactor #redsarmy #beautifulfuncountrygirl #29K #heartofgoldwithmetalinhersoul #bestbadjokes
I am a very big Rush fan, and this is my all time favorite song, both by Rush and by anybody ever. Beethoven's 9th Symphony takes second place next to La Villa Strangiato, in my opinion. You correctly saw that the song tells a story, with a plot and characters. What the story is depends on each individual listener. Nobody can say that anyone is interpreting it incorrectly. While the story says one thing to me, it might be a completely different tale to you. And both of us can be fine with this difference. As you undoubtedly know by now, there are numerous live versions of this song available. Each sounds distinctly different from both this studio version, and from each other; Rush has never been a band to rest on their laurels. I am only sad that you never had a chance to see them perform it live in concert, because this was spectacular. No video can do it justice, but I do encourage you to seek out some video performances of it here on TH-cam.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary
This might be my favorite RUSH album. I think I bought the year my youngest was born (1984). La Villa Strangiato means "The Strange Town" If you listen closely to this piece, you can hear themes from several other Rush songs. For instance: in Strangiato Theme, you can hear the intro to The Spirit of Radio, which came out a couple of years later. There are other themes throughout the album.
A Canadian here. Been a hardcore Rush fan for over 1/2 a century now, and am not amazed that so many newer generations are discovering their immense talents today. Still blows my mind how a trio can create so much textural sound steeped in both rhythm and harmony. I am still so sad that Neil Peart is gone, RIP my friend. Also, would love to hear you react to almost anything from the near 60 YEAR career of "YES", my all-time favorite band. Take care.
I love that even they struggled to play this in a single take when recording it. ButN being our boys, they now make it look like a cinch LIVE. They wrote a masterpiece with this one. And all based on a dream Alex had. Amd I really REALLY want to experience that dream while listening to this song.
This is one of my ALL TIME favorites. I first listened to this around age twelve (1980ish) and it so overwhelmed my brain I thought I was going crazy. I think my frontal lobe had a long way to go before I could parse what I was hearing in this song. I still listen to it all the time.
This is based on a "strange dream" that Alex had ...... "Strangiato"... La-vill-a Stran-gee-at-o Oh the Exit Stage Left version is Kick Ass!!! Rush had nicknames for each other. Alex is "Lerxst" part IV is "Lerxst in Wonderland" Neil was "Pratt". and Geddy I think was Dirk. haha
In a recent interview Geddy was asked a question about Alex. Geddy paused for a second. "Oh - sorry. I haven't called him that for like 40 years and it took me a second...."
Geddy Lee - Bass guitars, Oberheim polyphonic; OB-X; Mini-Moog; and Taurus pedal Synthesizers, vocals Alex Lifeson - Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, Taurus Pedals Neil Peart - Drums kit, timbales, gong bass drums, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, wind chimes, bell tree, tubular bells, crotales, cowbells, plywood, wood blocks, triangles, tympani, and Gong!
Watching your reaction to a song that’s been popping into my head for like 40 years is priceless. It gives me (and so many other diehard RUSH fans out there) so much joy to get a new recruit! Thank you! I want a redheaded neighbor like you!
Yeah they play it live and the best live version is definitely the 1981 Exit stage left version. The middle guitar solo is even better…. Like that is possible !! 😮😮😮😮
I was kind of wondering about your beautiful and intense reactions. Not completely out of the ordinary for new people, but I cannot even imagine what having synesthesia and listening to this is like. I’ve seen them live in concert, up close and personal, many, many times over the decades under the influence of various things in my youth and it was about the best it can get for a Rock concert experience. Like I said before, you would’ve been the perfect RUSH NIGHT date. It was something set apart, special and different from most other Rock concerts. It was the vibe, the huge BUZZ of anticipation, the PEOPLE (RUSH ARMY) and of course these guys doing this flawlessly right in front of you at top volume with clouds of weed smoke filling the arena! It was a SCENE unlike no other, no dummies in a RUSH crowd! 🙂
Please take this in the gentle way I intend it: I get goosebumps to this every time. But I don't have synesthesia. Synesthesia is something entirely different; it's a form of neurodiversity, and something I've never experienced, and can't really imagine.
That is a beautiful instrumental that truly lives up to it's name. One of if not the best rock instrumentals. Glad you you got the chaos. Strange is the name.
A Farewell To Kings Album and This one was 1/2 punch that blew me away.....1979 Pinkerton Festivel is the best live version as they were young and this was fresh in their minds
One of my favorite instrumentals ever. ❤ This ought to be interesting. And you were damn close - yeah it just means the Strange Village in Italian, and at least on the album liner notes, it's got like seven movements within it and each one has a title. It's kind of a weird Twilight Zone story, but it's told musically without any words. Mostly it's a chance for them to absolutely once again show that they can be the most extreme of badasses. In fact I believe that they consider this to be one of the most difficult things that they ever accomplished.
Yes, they have done this one now and again. Time Machine tour has a Polka opening. In Boston, Alex had no guitar and had to ad-lib for a few minutes. It's on YT. Also, Alex's (sound check) song "Snider" is hysterical.
Hey neighbor, this is not only one of my favorite Rush songs, but Hemispheres is one of my favorite Rush albums. I had a huge stereo system in my bedroom when I was a teenager in the 70’s. This album was blasting out of my room quite often back in those days. You definitely should check out a live version also.
Alex Lifeson delivered an onslaught of playing here. He had the expressiveness of David Gilmour, and the technical capabilities rivalling Eddie Van Halen.
The absolute best version of this song is the live version on Exit Stage Left. It contains what many fans believe to be Alex Lifeson's best live solo.
Concur,! Best live version I have seen!
@@billwoods9302 - That's also _my_ favourite version 🙂 Alex' solo in this piece is my #2 favourite, after Gilmour's in 'Another Brick In The Wall - Pt.II' 🙂
Great solo also in the (sadly incomplete) Pink Pop video!
Yep. Rush, ESL is the best.
@@highstepperARF - Also my favourite Rush album of them all! 😊
Definitely… I strongly encourage an additional reaction to the live version 1981
Best rock instrumental in history!
So true! And . . . the solo in the "Lexerst in Wonderland" section is one of the best guitar solos and drum combinations I've ever heard. Completely ethereal!
Should have won the Grammy. Lost to an instrumental by the police. The music industry was always slighting Rush. Time is making fools of all of them!
@@gritter2112 pretty sure YYZ lost to The Police, not this one
@@nedmac624 I stand corrected! Still should have won a Grammy. And the industry did slight them at almost every turn.
@@gritter2112 I 100% agree!
Probably my single most favorite instrumental of my life of 60 years. I never get tired of listening to it…Enjoy 🎉
@kevinharpham6396 This is my "desert island song" (assuming I was only allowed one). It has everything!
This is quite simply, the greatest rock instrumental song of all time in my opinion
Yours is an absolutely defensible position!
I would agree that it's one of the greatest but since I'm sure that I haven't heard all of the hundreds & hundreds of rock instrumentals ever recorded I will say it's "one of" not "the" greatest that I've heard.
@@graciefolden2359 Okay, listen to all of the rest and let us know!
Of course they did this live, they prided themselves as being able to play live and accurately, anything in their catalog without any technical compromising or cheating. Musical integrity in concert. Super clean live band! Extremely impressive in concert.
I know, I was there. 😁
They eventually played songs live that were never intended to be played live when recorded i.e. Losing It. It would be easier to list songs that they have NOT played live.
Me too. 5 times.😊
@@fknbuflobo I didn't like " loosing it " until
I realized that I have peaked and now are on the downward slope into retirement. Damn , the things I could do effortlessly all day , and all
night long. young folks, talk with your elders , you might be surprised what they say. they have been through just what you are going through now. .and they did just fine.The internet knows nothing .
Reds having eargasms again guys it's a beautiful thing to see . Wintersun Alex in Texas ❄️😍❤️
RUSH is like great sex.
Hi 'Red', as I'm watching this video, I see you're blown away. My friend, listen to (and react if you want) to this on EXIT...STAGE LEFT. All I can tell you is BRACE YOURSELF; YOU WILL BLOWN AWAY ABSOLUTELY BIG TIME by this performance. TRUST ME; listening to Alex' solo, and Neil's drumming; seeing how excited you are listening to this studio version, the live concert version from that Moving Pictures tour, you may not be able to contain yourself. Again, TRUST ME. I'm sure many here who comment will agree, La Villa Strangiatto from EXIT...STAGE LEFT is a SUPERB ABSOLUTE TREMENDOUS MASTERPIECE.
I agree! The ESL version is SICK!!
Facts! And what makes it so incredible is that the Exit Stage Left live concert version is done to perfection… 😉
Precision and perfect
agree 100%
I think the live version from EXIT... STAGE LEFT (1981) surpasses the quality of the studio recording. I have a favorite memory of this song that happened in the late eighties. I was driving to my sisters house in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, in the darkness of night. It began snowing and it looked like the star scape when the Millenial Falcon jumped to light speed. This was the last track on the cassette tape and the snow wizzing past the car, gave the tune a surreal feeling. One of my all time favorite tracks from Rush!
This entire album is a ride,,
YOU GET AN "A+" IN ADVANCED RUSH THEORY!!! WE LOVE THE "THEATER OF THE MIND"... EVERY NOTE AND EMOTION "GIFTED" TO US BY RUSH IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED... RUSH NEVER PLAYED TO US LIKE WE ARE IDIOTS... THEY NEVER "DUMBED IT DOWN"... I THINK YOU'RE READY TO EXPERIENCE THE CYGNUS X-1 SAGA NEXT... MUCH LOVE TO ALL!!!
One of their all time best instrumentals. Always a highlight at concerts often either an encore or a late in the set song where the boys can just let loose and jam out. Definitely shows just how great they are musicians!
I heard the Hemispheres album in its entirety on a local FM station shortly after it's release while I was trying to write a paper for a college class. I didn't listen to is closely and couldn't say afterwards that I had a very indepth knowledge of the band. Just under a year later, I bought two tickets to a Rush show in my town still not having much knowledge of them but at 20 years of age, a concert was a concert. I was completely overwhelmed. This show was phenomenal. Opening with 2112, including Cygnys X1, Bytor and the Snow Dog, and two versions of yet unreleased songs from their upcoming album Permanent Waves - Spirit of Radio and Freewill. The coup de grace of the show was Working Man and then this masterpiece, La Villa Strangiato. Needless to say, after that show I was an unrepentant fan of what I came to understand was the best live band I would ever get to see. La Villa is, in my mind the best song Rush ever performed and might one of the four or five best songs of any genre that has ever been recorded. It simply is an exquisite sonic experience.
NOW, YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH THEM DO THIS LIVE...
"Strangiato" (STRAHN-gee-ah-toe) is a nonsense word that they made up. The song was inspired by a dream Alex had. Though they recorded a few takes before this particular one, this was recorded live in the studio, meaning they refrained from recording drums first with a scratch vocal, then bass, then guitars, etc.. They did this in ONE take, in the same room with each other, with no "punch-ins" (fixed flubs). Of course there are a few overdubs (the intro acoustic part in particular), but the majority of this song was done in one take. Simply awesome. Cheers!
Not quite correct! They'd tried over and over again and for days on end to record it in one single take but in the end gave up, and it was comped together from _two_ takes.
That experience also was one of the reasons why Rush decided to step away from such long and super-intricate songs, which reflects already in the next album, 'Permanent Waves', despite its last song also being fairly long ('Natural Science') but not as complicated 🙂
@Gitano_Music would be right if we were watching the official video of the song, I believe. There they finally nailed it in one pass!
@@mightyV444 Ah. I guess I was thinking of the video. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.
@@Gitano_Music - Sure! No problem 😊 My info comes from a Rush documentary. Probably 'Beyond The Lighted Stage' 🙂
You’re thinking of Xanadu which was recorded in one take…
It would seem that you found that one band that checks all the boxes! 3 friends that were able to take us on so many musical/lyrical journeys and leave us all with wide smiles on our faces! Another great one Red!!!
Hemispheres is my second favorite Rush album out of 20, so yeah, La Villa has a special place in my heart. I literally wore out the 8-track tape in 1978.
Yes, they played this in concert. The studio version that you just listened to was also mostly live in the studio. Amazing band!!
This is in the top 5 of most Rush fans, I am guessing.. Your reactions to Rush songs are the best on TH-cam. Try Necromancer for some early Rush trying to discover themselves. One of my favorites.
It was my first album played on a crappy mono record player. I thought that is why it sound so tintty, bad/ cheap mixing i guess. but the lyrics and stories where awesome.
I am so happy that you are coming to age of being a Rush fan, someone that can appreciate the album version with out the visual aids of a video. Just put on the headphones, turn it up, close your eyes and just enjoy. I always seem to be carried away with imagination.
We Rush nerd fans LUV your compassion!
@@NASA-stole-our-money - She's really getting into it! 😄👍
You are so on point with your comments!!! Very impressive on one listening!!! And yes, they did this live countless times....it's a fan favorite.
They ended the night with it on a few tours. You may want to check this song out on their Time Machine tour.....quite impressive!!!! Cheers!
Alex (Lerxst) is playing out his dream in sections and Geddy and Neil are right with him perfectly. I love this amazing instrumental. You need to witness it live from their Time Machine Tour and their R30 Tour. There are other really great live ones from 1978 & 79, so young and amazing. Maybe you won't be overwhelmed by synesthesia experiencing it live because it is magnificent live.
Live in Rio where Alex gets to be Alex....too funny.
Ah, La Villa Strange EE ah toh! One of My favorites! Nice to see Your Rushgasm, R.H.N.! Keep up the great work! ❤❤❤
Synestesia! I never knew there was a name for what i have been experiencing my entire life or that it was considered a condition? Mind blown! Thank you so much redheadedneighbor! Long live Rush baby!!!
Alex Lifeson: RUSH guitarist and Guru Extraordinaire! The HEART ❤️ AND SOUL OF RUSH! THE FUNNIEST MAN ON THE PLANET AND GREATEST SPEECH GIVER OF ALL TIME!!! ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: BLAH…BLAH…BLAH! HATS 🎩 OFF TO ALEX LIFESON 😎😎😎👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎸🎸🎸
Lerxst!
TELL IT!!!
Alex Lifeson's Finest Moment... That Main Solo In The Middle❤
Synesthesia is why we all air drum with Neil. 🤘
So funny 🤣. RUSH rarely has that effect on the ladies! Rock on darlin!!! 😎
I’m a girl that loves RUSH.. there are more of us than you think.
@ love it Kim!!! Back in the day that wasn’t the case. So stoked it is now ❤️
I would always say I love this Strange Villa, then i would love another song and then yet come back and say my fav again! 😂 Rush plays mind games! 🤣
Great music needs no words, obviously
Another GREAT REACTION!! Live version of this, from Exit Stage Left, is phenomenal!
This is my all time Rush fav song. I also believe that it's the best instrumental rock song ever written. All that album is a masterpiece. As for if I listened to this song a lot, I'm a guitarist since I was 13-14, I'm 60 now. I first had the vinyl of this record then the CD and when I lost everything to fire I bought the CD again. I can play perfectly about 90% of that song on the guitar and I learned it by ear. That means pressing play, stop, rewind and play again... hundreds of times if not thousands.
One of the best instrumentals from Rush. It contains my favorite guitar solo from Alex. You must watch the live version of this song. Rush played it live for many years. I remember loving the laser light show during Alex's guitar solo. It was amazing. This was such a fun reaction!
This is my "if you were on a deserted island and could only have one......" song. Alex's Magnum Opus. Greatest guitar solo ever, imo.
Alex had a nightmare and told the guys and they made this song to tell the story of the nightmare. If you look at the section titles there is a sort of hodge podge of languages used. Alex once said in an interview that the dream (nightmare) kept switching languages and locations on him. During the main solo (pt IV) it starts very subdued and melodic and the solo slowly builds up in intensity to the climax. I love how Geddy and Niel slowly build with Alex as well in such a skilled way, accompanying him perfectly. It's almost like a John Williams score. Lerxst is Geddy's nickname for Alex.
For almost 50 years I’ve loved this song! And in all that time, I’ve known but never understood one thing. There are only 3 of them. How the hell?!?
They titled this song with the sidebar..."an exercise in self indulgence "....they're showing off ! Theyre just that good...thanks for the reaction!
Here we go ,, Finally.
I'm a huge Rush fan, I couldn't possibly pick a favorite song, each one has a meaning and a unique memory for me. I miss them everyday 😞 RIP Professor 🥁
When they recorded this tune it was so complicated they recorded in three sections. They played it to a tee live. Thanx for more Rush!
I was bouncing around on a destroyer in the Indian Ocean when I first heard this song I just know this I don't know any other band that they would put this on a track
This is at the top of my list…. Timeless masterpiece….AGAIN…
How do musicians do that? You ask. Well the answer is that not many can. Utter genius here from three guys who were so lucky to meet each other. Lucky for us too. I've been listening to them for over 40 years and still find it unbelievable.
Alex going full Spanish guitar is awesome. The guy is so versatile.
This song is a complete RUSH Flex. 💪💪💪
Yyyy bueno RUSH es así!!! Majestuoso!!!! Gracias RUSH Argentina!!!
It's OK to be flabbergasted by the sheer brilliance of this song!😂❤
I'm a long time musician but I absolutely experience synesthesia, I can almost just do it on demand. I love it I absolutely love the combination.
thank you for doing my suggestion :)....that is one my favorite, ever ....an absolute joy to listen to !!! it’s like being struck by lighting !
Yes this one sounds great live
IMHO......this still sets the standard for rock instrumentals.....fuckin masterpiece
I really enjoyed listening to this with you. I do not have synesthesia for anything else but this song gives me full body shivers and head rushes EVERY TIME. This album (Hemispheres) was what sold me, 100% Rush fan for life when I heard this song as a teenager. Probably 8 years after it was released! I was just a little kid in 1978 and it would have gone right over my head but I heard it at the right time in my life and was hooked. Like, are they even human?
Imagine hearing this entire album live as your first RUSH concert was amazing Maple Leaf Gardens 1978
I was there.....totally awesome experience as a teenager.😁
@@gr8whyte66 I had reds on Alex Lifeson's side if the stage for that concert and to top it off a girl in my class in high school asked me out to this concert I had a clipboard with all three members on it that I used to takes notes she noticed lol The one and only time a girl asked me out on a date GLAD SHE DID RUSH was awesome. She complained to her friends I air drummed all night which was a lie usually I do but I was trying to be on my best behavior and didn't she pissed me off. Lol
This album envois tears .
There's so many time signatures, timing cues , "chaos "and interaction between them in this song you almost have to do a live version - I've watched it dozens of times & I see something new everytime !
What a fantastic reaction, it was like you felt every beat every tempo change , thank you
I almost want to save this. So fire
So awesome! Glad you enjoyed! It was like each of them showing off but at the same time being in total sync and playing their asses off
My favourite Alex quote about this song is that he couldn't play it when he wrote it, now he plays it while sitting on the couch watching tv. One of their all time best.
The are other great and fantastic bands like Rush with Amazing Musician ship and it's found in the Top Classic Prog bands and they are all Favs of Rush also ! 👍
Yes/ Genesis "Gabriel Era 1970-75"/ King Crimson/ Jethro Tull/ Pink Floyd/ ELP/
Gentle Giant/ Nektar/ Camel/ Focus and many more from 1969' - 1979' the Best Era 🎶
Awesome reaction Red. Again I say, “you’re authentic and awesome”! You could have been the 8th woman in the audience had you joined before😉 (inside Rush joke)
Based on a series of Alex's dreams (nightmares?). La villa Stran-jee-ato at last ❤. What a masterpiece! Thank you very much for the reaction❤❤❤.
Definitely a favorite.
Finally !!, knew you'd like this one. Great reaction. Yup, they did all there stuff live. The story here was a nightmare dream from Alex.
Cheerz!!!!
My all time favorite Rush instrumental.. Long live the mighty Rush! 👊🏻
From a Gary to Geddy your one of the most talented musician of all time! No one touches your talent on bass, keyboards, and singing! You are the definition of Unique and RUSH is not RUSH without your playing and vocals! To quote the movie: I LOVE YOU MAN! Alex and Neil as well!!
"I'm doing some changes to the background." Planticide alert. 😂 Excellent reaction. I'd never heard this one before, so good.
Yes they did it live boy did they.
The hardest, musically, they ever played. Amazing arrangement
Fun fact on this one Red. When in the studio their goal was to record this in one take together. Eventually Terry Brown (producer) convinced them to do it in 3 separate takes....together. And YES, they did pull this off live.....even better in my book.
What great fun that was! Admittedly, the Exit Stage Left version is THE live version to see, but the studio version is the original and it’s the one I connect with the most. It’s seared into my psyche because I remember my reaction the first time I heard it. “Are they allowed to do this?” I’d ask myself - because everything else I’d heard up to this point followed a pretty standard rock song structure.
THIS WAS DIFFERENT.
Yes - this was in rotation when they played live. Sometimes we got the entire thing; other times portions of it were part of a medley with parts of other songs.
Thoroughly enjoyed this reaction! 🙏🏼
I love this style of guitar so good #redheadedneighbor #bestreactor #redsarmy #beautifulfuncountrygirl #29K #heartofgoldwithmetalinhersoul #bestbadjokes
Oh No, here we GO! 😃😆
Background information? It’s BADASS! There you go. 🙂
You consistently make my day with your RUSH reactions.
Love from TEXAS! 😁👍
Indeed, it was a strange village. A scary village with monsters! But we keep going back... lol
I am a very big Rush fan, and this is my all time favorite song, both by Rush and by anybody ever. Beethoven's 9th Symphony takes second place next to La Villa Strangiato, in my opinion.
You correctly saw that the song tells a story, with a plot and characters. What the story is depends on each individual listener. Nobody can say that anyone is interpreting it incorrectly. While the story says one thing to me, it might be a completely different tale to you. And both of us can be fine with this difference.
As you undoubtedly know by now, there are numerous live versions of this song available. Each sounds distinctly different from both this studio version, and from each other; Rush has never been a band to rest on their laurels. I am only sad that you never had a chance to see them perform it live in concert, because this was spectacular. No video can do it justice, but I do encourage you to seek out some video performances of it here on TH-cam.
Live long and prosper Rush Nerd. Don't worry I'm one in the same.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR!
With heart felt admiration and sincerity!
Gary
This might be my favorite RUSH album. I think I bought the year my youngest was born (1984).
La Villa Strangiato means "The Strange Town"
If you listen closely to this piece, you can hear themes from several other Rush songs. For instance: in Strangiato Theme, you can hear the intro to The Spirit of Radio, which came out a couple of years later. There are other themes throughout the album.
Yes, they did it live. I sent you links for good live songs from them a while back.
A Canadian here. Been a hardcore Rush fan for over 1/2 a century now, and am not amazed that so many newer generations are discovering their immense talents today. Still blows my mind how a trio can create so much textural sound steeped in both rhythm and harmony. I am still so sad that Neil Peart is gone, RIP my friend. Also, would love to hear you react to almost anything from the near 60 YEAR career of "YES", my all-time favorite band. Take care.
How many bands can have that much complexity in just one song
I love that even they struggled to play this in a single take when recording it. ButN being our boys, they now make it look like a cinch LIVE. They wrote a masterpiece with this one. And all based on a dream Alex had. Amd I really REALLY want to experience that dream while listening to this song.
none 🙂
One of my favorite Alex Solo's in this one. Thanks for getting this reaction out.
This is one of my ALL TIME favorites. I first listened to this around age twelve (1980ish) and it so overwhelmed my brain I thought I was going crazy. I think my frontal lobe had a long way to go before I could parse what I was hearing in this song. I still listen to it all the time.
This is based on a "strange dream" that Alex had ...... "Strangiato"... La-vill-a Stran-gee-at-o Oh the Exit Stage Left version is Kick Ass!!!
Rush had nicknames for each other. Alex is "Lerxst" part IV is "Lerxst in Wonderland"
Neil was "Pratt". and Geddy I think was Dirk. haha
In a recent interview Geddy was asked a question about Alex. Geddy paused for a second. "Oh - sorry. I haven't called him that for like 40 years and it took me a second...."
Geddy Lee - Bass guitars, Oberheim polyphonic; OB-X; Mini-Moog; and Taurus pedal Synthesizers, vocals
Alex Lifeson - Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, Taurus Pedals
Neil Peart - Drums kit, timbales, gong bass drums, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, wind chimes, bell tree, tubular bells, crotales, cowbells, plywood, wood blocks, triangles, tympani, and Gong!
Watching your reaction to a song that’s been popping into my head for like 40 years is priceless. It gives me (and so many other diehard RUSH fans out there) so much joy to get a new recruit! Thank you! I want a redheaded neighbor like you!
Maybe give Natural Science a try next time?
Yeah they play it live and the best live version is definitely the 1981 Exit stage left version. The middle guitar solo is even better…. Like that is possible !! 😮😮😮😮
Your totally right 🤘RUSH🤘🇨🇦
I was kind of wondering about your beautiful and intense reactions. Not completely out of the ordinary for new people, but I cannot even imagine what having synesthesia and listening to this is like. I’ve seen them live in concert, up close and personal, many, many times over the decades under the influence of various things in my youth and it was about the best it can get for a Rock concert experience. Like I said before, you would’ve been the perfect RUSH NIGHT date. It was something set apart, special and different from most other Rock concerts. It was the vibe, the huge BUZZ of anticipation, the PEOPLE (RUSH ARMY) and of course these guys doing this flawlessly right in front of you at top volume with clouds of weed smoke filling the arena! It was a SCENE unlike no other, no dummies in a RUSH crowd! 🙂
Us old folks call it goose-bumps, lol
Please take this in the gentle way I intend it: I get goosebumps to this every time. But I don't have synesthesia. Synesthesia is something entirely different; it's a form of neurodiversity, and something I've never experienced, and can't really imagine.
Definite favorite❣️They tried to record this in 1 take and couldn’t, ended being 3 takes. Absolute MASTERPIECE❣️
Awesome as always...love the reaction...and I love the gold-fish painting...thanks again, Todd from Ohio...
That is a beautiful instrumental that truly lives up to it's name. One of if not the best rock instrumentals. Glad you you got the chaos. Strange is the name.
A Farewell To Kings Album and This one was 1/2 punch that blew me away.....1979 Pinkerton Festivel is the best live version as they were young and this was fresh in their minds
One of my favorite instrumentals ever. ❤ This ought to be interesting. And you were damn close - yeah it just means the Strange Village in Italian, and at least on the album liner notes, it's got like seven movements within it and each one has a title. It's kind of a weird Twilight Zone story, but it's told musically without any words.
Mostly it's a chance for them to absolutely once again show that they can be the most extreme of badasses. In fact I believe that they consider this to be one of the most difficult things that they ever accomplished.
Fantastic album! Fantastic Song!!❤❤❤❤
One of the most brilliant and moving guitar solos in rock. Starts so subtle and slowly builds to complete eargasm!
Yes, they have done this one now and again. Time Machine tour has a Polka opening. In Boston, Alex had no guitar and had to ad-lib for a few minutes. It's on YT.
Also, Alex's (sound check) song "Snider" is hysterical.
Far and away a favorite, and I feel the same way every time! I've seen them do it live several times and they nailed it every time.
And so ends the Hemispheres album. Every song on this album is a 10.
Hey neighbor, this is not only one of my favorite Rush songs, but Hemispheres is one of my favorite Rush albums. I had a huge stereo system in my bedroom when I was a teenager in the 70’s. This album was blasting out of my room quite often back in those days. You definitely should check out a live version also.
It's an incredible surprise..! Exit stage Left live version will surprise you as well
Alex Lifeson delivered an onslaught of playing here. He had the expressiveness of David Gilmour, and the technical capabilities rivalling Eddie Van Halen.
You can understand that these are best friends. How a true band is